Chapter 1
The Øresund Region - a geographic and economic overview

The Øresund Region comprises Eastern Denmark and Southern Sweden.

It is a region where the development can easily be visually followed as large on-going projects are taking shape: The Copenhagen Metro, the renewal of the harbour front in Malmö (e.g. Turning Torso), Ørestaden in Copenhagen - one of the largest city development projects in Europe and much more.

What is visible is only the top of the iceberg. Beneath the surface a great number of projects and networks between businesses, universities, research centres etc. are shaping one of the most interesting growth centres in Northern Europe.

Making two countries join hands in one region provides abundant options and opportunities. Yet it also causes different more problematic issues. This is for instance within regulation of the labor market, taxation, language barriers (even though Swedish and Danish are almost similar) and cultural behaviour.

A distinctive feature of the Øresund Region is the fact that it is one of the only cross-border regions in the world also comprising a capital. The central position of Copenhagen in the region means that many one-of-a-kind universities, high-tech industry and innovation milieus are located here.

But it is not solely on the Danish side that interesting things are happening. Lund University and its partnerships are frontrunners in developing new technology and medicine.

The Øresund Region is a place made by the people who live there, universities, public and private organisations and businesses. A total number of 3.6 million people live in the region today. In earlier days the sound between the countries (that also have given the region its name) was a barrier dividing enemies. But today the co-operation brings options that forms a development unseen in Scandinavia. The basic figures showing economic development tells us that the Øresund Region is performing better than anywhere else in Sweden and Denmark.

The fixed link between Sweden and Denmark, the Øresund Bridge, was opened in 2000. This marked a starting point for the region building. At once it became an easy and attractive option to work and settle on the other side of Øresund. The number of commuters have increased considerably during the short number of years the bridge has been open. Yet some barriers remain within areas like taxation, legislation etc.

This chapter tells the story of the region building, on the present development and what challenges lie ahead. Furthermore a thorough introduction to the economics and politics of the region.

Download chapter 1 here.